Researchers based in China have been excluded from applying to the European Union’s most advanced collaborative technology programmes, according to reporting by the South China Morning Post. The move affects €93 billion (US$110 billion) in Horizon Europe grants in “critical areas” such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, semiconductors, and biotechnology, citing concerns over research security and potential military applications.
The restrictions, effective this year, also require non-Chinese applicants to prove that partner institutions are not directly owned or controlled by Chinese organisations. The new rules, released in December, devote multiple pages specifically to limitations on China. Experts say the practical impact may be limited in some fields where collaboration has already declined, but the policy represents a symbolic shift in Europe’s approach to scientific partnerships.
Wu Ji, a senior space scientist and president of the Chinese Society of Space Research, said the ban is unlikely to significantly harm China but may isolate Europe. Wu noted that historic collaborations like the Double Star satellite mission are over, with the SMILE satellite – the last joint space science project studying the sun-Earth connection – scheduled for launch in April.
Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, dates back to the 1980s and has drawn applicants from over 100 countries. In the 2014-2020 cycle, the United States and China were the top non-EU participants, particularly in AI and quantum technology fields. Analysts say the EU’s decision reflects growing geopolitical considerations, with officials citing China’s opaque state-funded science programmes and tightened controls on international data sharing since 2021.
Commentators, including Denis Simon of the Quincy Institute, describe the EU’s approach as mirroring the US “small yard, high fence” logic, now adopted in European form. While China is barred from sensitive tech areas, researchers can still participate in Horizon Europe projects focused on climate, environmental science, food, agriculture, and biodiversity. Scientists like Shan Yuli at the University of Birmingham report that collaboration in these domains remains unaffected, highlighting the nuanced nature of the restrictions.